shamel ash
(Fraxinus uhdei)
This species is Introduced in the United States
ORIGIN: southern Mexico, Central America
GROWTH TRAITS: Fast-growing, upright tree reaching 60-80’ tall (18-25 m) from a shallow root system. Trees are multi-branched with rounded canopies when growing solitary, but are less-branched and narrow in dense infestations. Bark is fissured and gray (often mottled). Leaves are opposite and divided into 5-9 leaflets. Leaflets are opposite but with a single terminal leaflet. Leaflets are glossy, dark green, lance-shaped, and have toothed margins. Trees are evergreen in warm climates. Flowers are inconspicuous and appear from winter through spring. Trees are either male or female with female plants producing clusters of fruits in spring and summer. Fruits are papery, winged, narrow, and ½-1½” long (1¼-4 cm).
REPRODUCTION: By seed. Seeds remain viable in the soil for up to eight years.
HABITAT: Grows best in moist, well-drained soils including oak woodlands, riparian areas, and irrigated urban areas. Shade tolerant.
LOOK-ALIKES: The opposite leaves divided into 5-9 leaflets help differentiate evergreen ash from non-ash species. Several species of ash (both native and exotic) are established in North America, though the majority occur in the East. Evergreen ash can be differentiated from ash species in the Southwest by its combination of: growing as a tree rather than a shrub, having compound leaves, having smooth shoots (as compared to velvety), and having inconspicuous flowers rather than the obvious white flowers of other species. Evergreen ash leaflets are also green on the underside (as opposed to white), have pointed tips, always have serrated margins, and are more numerous (up to 9) compared to look-alike ashes.
CITATIONS:
Winston, R.L., Andreas, J.E., Milan, J., DesCamp, W., Randell, C.B., and M. Schwarzlander. 2014. New Invaders of the Southwest. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. FHTET-2014-12. Retrieved from https://bugwoodcloud.org/resource/files/14767.pdf
GROWTH TRAITS: Fast-growing, upright tree reaching 60-80’ tall (18-25 m) from a shallow root system. Trees are multi-branched with rounded canopies when growing solitary, but are less-branched and narrow in dense infestations. Bark is fissured and gray (often mottled). Leaves are opposite and divided into 5-9 leaflets. Leaflets are opposite but with a single terminal leaflet. Leaflets are glossy, dark green, lance-shaped, and have toothed margins. Trees are evergreen in warm climates. Flowers are inconspicuous and appear from winter through spring. Trees are either male or female with female plants producing clusters of fruits in spring and summer. Fruits are papery, winged, narrow, and ½-1½” long (1¼-4 cm).
REPRODUCTION: By seed. Seeds remain viable in the soil for up to eight years.
HABITAT: Grows best in moist, well-drained soils including oak woodlands, riparian areas, and irrigated urban areas. Shade tolerant.
LOOK-ALIKES: The opposite leaves divided into 5-9 leaflets help differentiate evergreen ash from non-ash species. Several species of ash (both native and exotic) are established in North America, though the majority occur in the East. Evergreen ash can be differentiated from ash species in the Southwest by its combination of: growing as a tree rather than a shrub, having compound leaves, having smooth shoots (as compared to velvety), and having inconspicuous flowers rather than the obvious white flowers of other species. Evergreen ash leaflets are also green on the underside (as opposed to white), have pointed tips, always have serrated margins, and are more numerous (up to 9) compared to look-alike ashes.
CITATIONS:
Winston, R.L., Andreas, J.E., Milan, J., DesCamp, W., Randell, C.B., and M. Schwarzlander. 2014. New Invaders of the Southwest. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. FHTET-2014-12. Retrieved from https://bugwoodcloud.org/resource/files/14767.pdf
Selected Images
Maps
EDDMapS Distribution - This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts, herbaria, and literature. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org
Invasive Listing Sources
Taxonomic Rank
| Domain: Eukarya |
| Kingdom: Plantae |
| Phylum: Magnoliophyta |
| Class: Magnoliopsida |
| Superorder: Asteranae |
| Order: Lamiales |
| Family: Oleaceae |
| Genus: Fraxinus |
| Fraxinus uhdei |
References
Common Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.
Scientific Name Reference: USDA, NRCS. 2010. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA.